STR Investing, The Podcast

In this Monday Morning Market Data Report on the STR Investing Podcast, co-host Mark Lumpkin breaks down the latest amenity data for Sedona, Arizona using insights from STR Search.

If you’re investing in Sedona—or considering it—this episode shows exactly which amenities are driving serious revenue and how much they’re worth annually.

Here’s what the data says about top performers in Sedona:

• Hot Tubs (59%) → +$38,346/year
• Fire Pits (54%) → +$22,417/year
• Swimming Pools (17%) → +$82,827/year
• Game Rooms (16%) → +$49,657/year
• Gyms (14%) → +$20,000+/year

Sedona is still an under-amenitized market compared to places like Scottsdale. That means major opportunity. Less than 20% of top performers have pools, game rooms, or gyms—yet those properties are dramatically outperforming the rest.

If you’re buying in Sedona, this episode lays out the blueprint:
Great views + strong amenities = serious revenue upside.

Need help finding a deal? Reach out to STR Search.
Need help designing or building? Connect with STR Cribs.

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In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, co-host Mark Lumpkin sits down with Jack Roberts from STR Cribs to talk sales, design, and what it really takes to build high-performing short-term rentals today.

Jack breaks down why “being real” wins in sales, how to build trust fast, and why the best salespeople don’t hide behind scripts or corporate talk. From there, we get into STR design strategy, how guest expectations keep evolving, and why you can’t out-design a bad property.

We cover:

• Why Jack says “I am the sales pitch”
• How to break down walls and get clients to open up
• The difference between designing for homeowners vs. designing for guests
• What refreshes actually move revenue (and what’s just wasted spend)
• Why STRs can pivot faster than hotels
• Jack’s favorite travel inspiration spots, plus rapid-fire favorites

Connect with Jack:

• Linkedin: @jackroberts00
• Book a call: STRCribs.com

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, co-host Mark Lumpkin sits down with Lance Morgan, founder of College Funding Secrets, to break down a different way to think about short-term rentals—using them to help pay for college and reduce taxes.

Lance explains how high-income families can reposition college savings, lower “financial aid income” on paper, and use STR tax benefits (bonus depreciation) as what he calls “tax scholarships.” The goal: stop writing big checks for tuition and instead buy an asset that can help cover college costs while continuing to generate long-term wealth.

We also talk about:

• Why the “secret cost of college” can be over $1M when you factor in opportunity cost
• How STR cash flow can cover student loan payments after graduation
• Why income matters more than assets when qualifying for aid
• Creative alternatives like “box houses” and other tax strategy rabbit holes
• Lance’s STR portfolio growth and what he’s building next: Scholarship Houses + Scholarship Vacations

Connect with Lance:

• CollegeFundingSecrets.com
• ScholarshipHouse.com (and ScholarshipVacations.com coming soon)

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com